Partner Article

New website revolutionises sub-contractor recruitment

The UK’s first bespoke website for subcontractors and employers working in the construction industry has been launched by a County Durham businessman frustrated by the continued use of recruitment agencies to fill subcontractor vacancies.

Subeaze.com was launched in February by Ivan Carr and allows subcontractors from all aspects of the building trade to create free profiles highlighting their qualifications, experiences, references and examples of previous work.

Potential employers can then advertise jobs or search for suitable subcontractors based on their specific requirements and contact employees directly.

Ivan founded Subeaze.com following years of frustration over the lack of a central database of building subcontractors and the use of recruitment agencies in the construction business.

As a project manager overseeing multi-million pound constructions, Ivan found he was often supplied with inappropriate staff for his projects when he used recruitment agencies, a result, he believes, of recruitment consultants lacking the practical experience and understanding of working on construction projects.

Ivan consulted with other figure heads from the major construction firms about the issue and the general consensus was that many project managers continued to use agencies because there was no real alternative. Spotting a gap in the market, Ivan founded Subeaze.com, the UK’s first detailed database of subcontractors.

As well as allowing project and site managers to search for their own staff without paying agency fees, Subeaze also allows subcontractors to search for jobs and filter roles themselves, instead of having potential roles filtered for them by agencies.

Ivan said: “Subcontractors are the backbone of the construction industry, and having access to suitably skilled and qualified people is essential when managing large scale construction projects.

“After more than 20 years in the construction industry, it seemed incomprehensible to me that there was no facility where employers could search for and contact suitable subcontractors directly, based on our needs on a project by project basis.

“Subeaze.com allows the building industry to take control of its staffing and removes the need to pay expensive recruitment agency fees. It is simple to use and ensures that the right subcontractor is matched with the right project.”

As well as offering an open platform for subcontractors and employers to connect, Subeaze.com have also partnered with Accountax, a leading employment and HMRC advisory service specialising in the construction industry to offer legal advice to employers.

Ivan said: “The database is just the start. We plan to continue to develop the site and offer more services, including accountancy advice for subcontractors and guides for site managers employing subcontractors for the first time.

“Our aim is to make Subeaze.com the one-stop-shop for all project managers, site managers, HR consultants and business owners working in the construction industry.”

Prior to launching the site, Ivan received a detailed intelligence report via Sunderland Software City which identified all industry recognised qualifications and awarding bodies which were then preloaded into the website, allowing subcontractors to select which and what level of qualification they held.

The information will not only help subcontractors highlight their specific skills but also allow employers to search for potential employees based on specific criteria.

Ivan said: “The database will not only allow subcontractors to retain control over their own employment, but it will help potential employers ensure that appropriately skilled people are employed to work on their projects, resulting in a higher standard of work, cost reductions and greater efficiencies.”

Subeaze is being supported by Sunderland Software City, the regional initiative driving the growth of the North East’s software industry. Sunderland Software City has provided marketing consultancy and advice as well as intelligence reports and business advice to help Subeaze build a database that is fully responsive to the industry’s needs.

Billy Webber, Sunderland Software City Business Support Manager said: “Subeaze is a prime example of how an innovative idea and the clever use of technology can revolutionise an industry.

“The North East has an enviable reputation for producing new technologies born out of the ideas of people working across different industries, and the sector will continue to grow as more and more people embrace the idea of using software to modernise traditional processes.

“We are delighted we have been able to support Subeaze so far and look forward to continuing to work with Ivan as he continues to grow and develop the business.

To find out more about Subeaze, visit the website at www.subeaze.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Amy Watson .